The discussion of what rules wineries should live with regarding production and visitation limits is complicated. But some salient factors seem self-evident.
The rules should be obeyed. The forthright policy of the Napa Valley Vintners Association is hard to argue with. They say wineries should comply with their use permits or other regulations and, if they cannot or don’t want to comply, they should seek to have them amended. Agreement that the rules should be obeyed is a good place to start.

Winemaker Lauren Swift has credited a Marlborough winery for her win in the Young Winemaker of the Year award.
Swift grew up in the Awatere Valley and went to school in Seddon and at the Marlborough Girls’ College, before moving to study wine at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Hawkes Bay.
She was awarded the inaugural Tonnellerie de Mercurey Young Winemaker of the Year Award at the Romeo Bragato wine industry event in Napier last week.

Foley Family Wines, which is controlled by American billionaire Bill Foley, says full-year operating earnings more than doubled on increased sales of bottled wine and modest profit from a growing pool of bulk wine.
Operating earnings before revaluations and tax rose to $3.5 million in the 12 months ended June 30, from $1.2M a year earlier, the Blenheim-based company said in a statement.

Adelaide City Councillor Sandy Wilkinson suggested the ban last week, arguing that some liquor stores were profiting from the struggles of vulnerable people – particularly those who drink in the parklands – by selling alcohol early in the morning.
However, East End Cellars owner Michael Andrewartha says his store has never sold cheap liquor, and that a morning ban would have a “severe impact” on his business.
“At least three staff would lose their positions, and for no reason,” he told InDaily.

A series of West Australian viticultural and winemaking trials were put to the palate-test this month as part of an inaugural event.
The Department of Agriculture and Food of WA (DAFWA) facilitated a tasting workshop, at the Margaret River Education Campus, where winemakers provided feedback on different wine trials.

West Gippsland’s famously wet weather comes in handy for wine growers – some wineries are able to choose not to irrigate.
“A distinctive factor between cool climate varieties and the irrigated varieties is the production level,” Wild Dog Winery owner Gary Surman told the Warragul & Baw Baw Citizen.
“We would produce about a fifth of the volume of tonnes per acre compared to irrigation vines.”

Visiting international wine judge and celebrated author Stephen Brook believes there is a strong future for specific wine styles and varieties from the Swan Valley but the key is marketing.
“The Swan Valley does certain things very well, but in some cases these are varieties and styles which are not in huge demand, so the challenge for winemakers and marketers is to create markets for them,” he said.